Electric insect destroyer



July 5, 1949. GARDENHOUR 2,475,182

ELECTRIC INSECT DESTROYER Filed Jan. 3, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Allen J Gare e0 our.

I VENTOR.

ATTORNE S.

July 5, 1949. A. J. GARDENHOUR ELECTRIC INSECT DESTROYER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 8,

Filed Jan. s, 1944 Qar'o ea Ql/en July 5, 1949. A. J. GARDENHOUR ELECTRIC INSECT DESTROYER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 3, 1944 Patented July 5, 1949 rrso STATES rm QFFIC 3 Claims. 1.

This invention relates to improvements in fly and insect electrocutors.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of an electrocutor of cage-like structure with which a source of illumination is associated. for the purpose of attracting flies or insects into the electrocuting range.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a low cost, fool proof and weather re sistant electrocutor which is extremely durable and low in maintenancecost.

Other objects and advantages of this inven tion will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part referparts of this specification, and wherein similar ence characters designate corresponding throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved electrocutor.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic representation of the wiring circuit.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross sectional view taken through the improved electrocutor.

Figures 4 and 5 are cross sectional views taken substantially on the respective lines in Figure 3 of the drawings.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown only a preferred embodiment of the invention, the letter A may generally designate the improved electrocutor, whichmay include a framework 13 consisting of metal top and bottom members C and D and insulating supporting posts E for supporting the electrical grid F. A transformer G is supported upon the framework and with the same is associated an improved cover arrangement H.

The grid supporting posts E are of porcelain or other insulation material spirally grooved in the same manner as set forth in my co-pending application, Serial Number 516,800, filed January 1944. The supporting members or posts E are adapted to be vertically positioned and to that end individual bolts extend through the passageways thereof. The heads of the bolts lie beneath the base D of the framework B, and the nut ends 2i thereof are clamped upon the top metal wall C.

The base D is preferably of stamped metal including a wall 23 and depending flanges 24. The former has an opening 26 therein through which the electrocuted insects and flies drop through or into the base D.

The metal top wall C is suitably apertured to receive the threaded ends of the bolts 20; the

nuts 2! being clamped thereon. provided with upwardly extending inwardly convergent flanges 30, separated from each other at the corners thereof for accurate interfitting in the lower end of the frosts-pyramidal shaped cover or roof H.

The grid F comprises two wires, designated generally at 35 and 35, spirally wound in the grooves of the posts or members E so that the adjacent strands of wire at each side portion of the grid are formed of different wires. This effect is se cured by winding each wire upon the posts so that it is turned in the alternate grooved. portions of the spiral groove of each post; the intermediate grooved portions of the spiral groove receiving the turns of the other wire. These two wires are not in contact at any point and they are electrically charged, as will be hereinafter described, with the current of opposite polarity.

In the specific example shown it is noted that four of the posts E are provided in a rectangular arrangement, but of course I may provide any described number. The grid forms a cage-like enclosure.

In each of the side grid portions the strands are absolutely parallel and uniformly spaced to insure an air gap which is just beyond the breakdown voltage. The gauge of the wire is such that while the wire is bendable it is inherently stiff and will flex onl under appreciable manual effort. So as to horizontally position and main tain true parallelism of the strands and to ten sion the same so that the parallel strands lie exactly perpendicular to the axes of the posts, each strand for each side of the grid at each of the posts E is crimped at All. The crimps are straight and also lie in parallelism so as to maintain a uniform air gap. It is to be noted from the wiring diagram in Figure 2 that the two Wires 35 and 36 are not in contact at any point. The ends of each of the wires at certain of the posts D completely loop the bars and are soldered to themselves.

The transformer G is of the laminated core gas tube type and detachably supported upon the top wall C by means of four vertically positioned metal legs 45. These legs have angled feet abutting the top surface of the wall C through which they are secured to the wall by screws 46. The transformer G, shown diagrammatically in Figure 2, includes a primary winding 50, the ends of which are connected to wires 5| having a connecting plug 52 thereon. The secondary winding 53 has wires 54 and 55 leading therefrom respectively Said wall C is connected with the wires 35 and 36, as by soldering at 51.

In the electrocutor the air gap measures one quarter of an inch in each of the side grid portions of the complete grid F. Under such circumstances, the primary winding is 115 A. C. and the secondary is 2,000 volts-18 milliamperes.

In my improved electrocutor I provide a lamp socket l detachably supported as by bolts 7 l upon the lower surface of the wall C; the socket within being positioned within the cage-like arrangement of the grid and being adapted to receive a bulb 72 which may be inserted into the socket through the opening 25 in the bottom wall or base of the housing structure.

Current to the bulb 72 is supplied through lead lines 73 connected with the wires above mentioned, as shown diagrammatically in Figure 2.

The roof structure 4 is of irusto-pyramidal shape including a top wall 80 and downwardly divergent side walls 8|; each of the latter being adapted to receive one of the flanges 30 in abutting relation inside thereof, and being provided with screws 82 to detachably connect the walls 8| to the wall structure C.

The top wall 80 is provided with a hollow nut attached bushing 85 through which the wires 5| extend; the bushing structure including a supporting ring 81 to enable the support of the electrocutor upon a suitable hanger or hook.

It is to be noted that the transformer is completely hidden from sight and supported upon the top wall structure C within the roof H, where it is readily accessible at all times.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that adjacent strands of the side grids of the grid structure will be supplied with current of opposite polarity. There is no possibility of leakage of the high tension voltage because the air gap at all points in each of the side grids is just beyond the breakdown voltage.

Should a fly or insect pass through the gap at any point in the grid, a circuit will are through the fly or insect and it will be electrocuted.

Various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In an electrocutor the combination of a framework including a base, a top wall, insulation posts secured at opposite ends to the base and top wall in a vertical arrangement, said posts being of a number greater than two, and electrically conductive stiff but manually bendable wires wound around said posts and extending between the posts to provide electrocuting grids, said wires having crimps adjacent to said posts at each side of the frame to provide tensioned horizontally positioned parallel strands at each grid, defining uniform air gaps therebetween.

2. In an electrocutor the combination of a framework including a base, a top wall, insulation posts secured at opposite ends to the base and top wall in a vertical arrangement, said posts being of a number greater than two, and a pair of stiff but manually bendable wires wound around said posts in alternating strand providing relation, said wires having crimps adjacent to said posts at each side of the frame to provide tensioned horizontally positioned parallel strands at each side of the grid defining uniform air gaps therebetween. and means for charging said wires with current of opposite polarity.

3. In an electrocutor the combination of a metallic base, a metallic top, a plurality of spirally grooved hollow insulation posts, bolts extending thru said posts and secured at opposite ends thereof to said base and top wall, and relatively stiff but bendable wire wound in the grooves from post to post provide grids between adjacent posts, the strands of wire forming said grids each being crimped therein adjacent each of said posts to horizontally position the strands in uniform air gap providing relation.

ALLEN J. GARDENI-IOUR.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 424,729 Scherer Apr. 1, 1890 1,159,157 Bass Nov. 2, 1915 1,848,614 Folmer et a1 Mar. 8, 1932 1,910,623 McWilliams et al. May 23, 1933 1,985,921 Folmer Jan. 1, 1935 2,302,803 Root Nov. 24, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 537,566 France Mar. 6, 1922 sate ol @orrectio Patent No. 2,475,182. July 5 1949 ALLEN J GARDENHOUR It is hereby certified that errors appear in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correctlon as follows:

Column 2, line 23, for describe read desired; column 4, line 29, claim 3, before the word provide insert to;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office. Signed and sealed this 22nd day of November, A. D. 1949.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents. 

